Chris Bosh presents President Obama with a signed basketball during an event this week at the White House. / Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images

by David Jackson, USA TODAY

by David Jackson, USA TODAY

President Obama said nice things about the Miami Heat during a White House ceremony Tuesday, so it's only natural that one of the Heat's top players would return the favor.

All-Star Chris Bosh even defended Obama over his infamous 2-for-22 shooting performance during last year's White House Easter Egg Roll, saying that -- based on a review of the video -- the president's mechanics were fine.

"The Miami Heat were honored at the White House on Tuesday for capturing the NBA championship for the second year in a row. Bosh said it was 'awesome' to get to hang out with the basketball-loving president during the visit but regretted that there was no time to shoots some hoops.

"'It's really cool,' Bosh said of Obama's interest in basketball. 'The fact that he knows who you are, and he follows basketball, and that he probably watched all the games is pretty awesome.'"